Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 24, 2026
Methods for Studying Uterine Contributions to Pregnancy Establishment in an Ovariectomized Mouse Model
Published on: April 7, 2023
Vaginal micronized progesterone versus intramuscular progesterone for luteal support in women undergoing in vitro
Mohamed F Mitwally1, Michael P Diamond, Mostafa Abuzeid
1Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. mmitwally@yahoo.com
Objective:
To study the outcome of IVF-ET in women who used vaginal P (vaginal P(4)) versus those who used P in oil via IM injection (IM-P(4)) for luteal support.
Design:
Retrospective cohort.
Setting:
Tertiary referral infertility center.
Patient(S):
A cohort of 544 women.
Intervention(S):
In 145 women, vaginal P(4) was used, while in 399 women, IM-P(4) was used for luteal support.
Main Outcome Measure(S):
The primary outcome was ongoing pregnancy rate. Secondary outcomes included other IVF-ET outcomes: rates of clinical pregnancy and pregnancy loss (chemical and miscarriage) and serum P levels during the luteal phase and early pregnancy.
Result(S):
Women who used vaginal P(4) for luteal support had ongoing pregnancy rates (odds ratio [OR], 1.0675; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.7587-1.5020) and rates of total pregnancy loss (OR, 1.0775; 95% CI, 0.7383-1.5727) that were not statistically different from those who used IM-P(4). During the luteal phase, women who used vaginal P(4) had mean serum P levels that were not statistically different from those who used IM-P(4). However, during early pregnancy, mean P levels in pregnant women who used vaginal P(4) were statistically significantly higher.
Conclusion(S):
In women undergoing IVF-ET according to the GnRH agonist long protocol, luteal support with vaginal P(4) was associated with treatment outcomes that were no different from those associated with IM-P(4) luteal support.
Related Concept Videos
01:21Intrauterine Drug Delivery Systems
01:24In Vitro Fertilization
The IVF process begins with ovarian stimulation, during which reproductive endocrinologists prescribe hormonal medications to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs instead of the single...
01:27Ovarian Cycle